Pumping her legs, sweat running freely down her forehead.

Kresley could hear the fire frenzy landing behind her, barely out of reach.

Feeling at her own power Kresley hoped for a miracle.

Feeling like her heart was going to double in size in hope she grasped at the familiar black light.

It bore it’s head around her, shadows, clouds of black formed but dissipated almost immediately.

Eyes burning as she shook with the understanding that she was about to die.

The blasts getting closer and closer her eyes desperately searched as she sprinted across the now open field to the dungeon entrance.

All around her were a mix of demon and adventurer corpses, in the distance she could see a few holding out still.

Silver feather struck like a formation of ants onto a large Ghoulbound, screeching in pain Kresley could see it’s pain last a moment longer until it was swiftly decapitated.

Trying to swerve in the direction of the Birdfolk she quickly noticed the large flames surrounding her-

What would be a small obstacle for her would mean nowhere to run for Kresley.

Feeling a burst of dirt with a wisp of flame tickling her right leg, elicited a short cry as Kresley kept running to the mouth.

Surely the guards were nearby, Kresley though as she passed the halfway point.

Nearly at the destination the debris of the nearby tents were already burned however in their wake lay a death trap if she were to trip.

Leaping across a large gap in the dirt path, Kresley turned to the Red sky and saw only one imp was still following her.

Contempt plastered on its face in a contorted manner as the mana in the air was brought to it’s fingertips and another ball of hate was coming her way.

Noticing it's path ahead of her, Kresley took a hard left turn noticing a group of people previously hidden by the dungeon’s opening-

The guards!

Kresley’s mind went into overdrive as she scanned the faces, looking for any female adventurer’s-

But in the group there was only one female, a guard with a particularly large scar on her right hand and her eyes unconcerned despite the action around her.

She stuck to what seemed to be the captain, giving out orders Kresley quickly made her way to the side entrance.

Trying to avoid the battle that were growing more numerous the closer to the entrance of the dungeon she got.

Noticing more adventurer’s, some holding out other’s lying still on the ground as their teammates fought with a desperate chagrin motivated her as she passed another flaming ruin.

“**ians, we’ve only got one shot at this.” Hearing the captain shouting order’s 4 of the guards holding off a demon brute each, simultaneously used their abilities.

A shower of spikes and bright light-

Quickly looking away before her eyes were bitten by the intensity of the light, Kresley felt a glow of red strike her arm before she was on the ground.

A grilled seasoning of sweat and blood filled the air, as Kresley looked at the scene the imp which was gathering another fireball before one of the spikes that desecrated the brutes easily speared it.

Kresley looked away from the fallen angel as it fell to the ground below.

Kresley could feel dust land on her tongue as she felt a hand on her arm.

Closing her gaping mouth Kresley couldn’t even whisper a complaint as the pain shocked her into-

Wait… There was no pain?

Turning she saw jade blades pull away from her arm, the previous blackening and raw flesh was quickly being rewoven as the healer backed away.

His green armor transformed into green robes as he join his colleagues who were talking in hushed whispers as the leader came to her.

“Kresley. Didn’t expect you to be walking for another few days, seems Deilriouse did a good job.” Talking calmly and waving at the robed man, he turned quickly to Kresley, his previous air of taking things slow was turned on it's back with his eyes.

“Now, why are you her-” Talking faster after noticing Kresley’s eyes blinking slower and her breathing calming, Leer’s second of surprise showed on his face as Kresley interrupted him.

“W-Waynev, she-was-meant-to-be-in-the-dungeon-this-morning-and-we-I-came-to-save, find her.” Vomiting out the words and backing away slightly from the resilient but dependable leader Kresley’s squirmed as she realised the chances of them even noticing Waynev enter the dungeon.

But at Waynev’s name Kresley could see his eyes widen before he turned to the sole female of the group.

“Waynev… entered the woods a few hours ago didn’t she? Near one of the-” Stopping himself, he gave a micro nod.

“Zia, swap locations with me. I’ll handle the forest and the… missing citizen.”

As the words left his mouth, he raised his hand that was in a fist and released it.

A small yellow pulse went over the group including Kresley, she felt more awake, faster looking to the resolute man she heard a brush of movement behind her.

But as she turned back the group of guards was gone.

Hearing a scream in the distance Kresley was about to turn away before she heard his voice and felt movement from under her.

Feet moving Kresley kept up the pace with him, it felt as if they were walking but the terrain around them was almost teleporting them forward.

“Kresley, Waynev’s been missing for a while now our networ-guards spotted her near a Malivous.” Pointing with his arm at the distant massive demon smashing against a barrier, Kresley nearly tripped but was gripped by her collar.

“Don’t stop moving, we need to find where she went. I would guess the forest but with the ritual being nearby-”

Just as they passed a rock a massive brute, was waiting with a contemptuous smile leaking through his jaw to his neck, which opened and revealed rows of teet-

Kresley immediately grabbed for the knives under her holster as the captain already gripped a spear of luminescent light.

Piercing the brute through its chest out of its inhumane jaw.

“Don’t worry.” He grabbed onto it’s shoulder despite being a foot taller than him as he ripped the spear out with a thump that brought out it’s rapidly darkening organs.

“This is child’s play. Now let’s find Waynev.”